NovelEnglishChapter 491:
Darren glanced at Vicky and remarked, “You've rehearsed this repeatedly. There's no need for such smugness
now. Can’t you hold back a bit?”
Vicky let out a dismissive snort and responded with a grin, “Why should | hide my confidence? Haven't | been
doing just that for years?”
Darren was about to respond when Elyse’s performance began, capturing his attention and silencing his
conversation with Vicky.
Vicky, too, was intrigued to see how Elyse would handle the piece.
From what she recalled, Elyse had always struggled to showcase her performance skills effectively. Despite her
practice, she never seemed to master that particular piece.
But to everyone's surprise, Elyse had put on a shocking performance. She played the violin with remarkable
fluidity, capturing the essence of the piece brilliantly. It perfectly showed the essence of the struggle between
good and evil.
Seeing this, Darren realized Elyse had likely mastered the piece as well and remarked, “It seems Elyse has
improved.”
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Vicky clenched her teeth, inwardly cursing how swiftly Elyse had improved, leaving no room for anyone to catch
up. However, she soon saw the upside. If she continued to refine her own skill, she could consistently challenge
Elyse. Having a formidable rival throughout her life seemed appealing.
Darren expected Vicky to retort, but instead, she just rolled her eyes at him and walked away.
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He touched his nose and asked, “What's wrong with her? Why didn’t she argue back? Does she feel intimidated
and unwilling to engage?”
Meanwhile, on stage, after completing her performance to resounding applause, Elyse bowed graciously to the
audience before exiting the stage, clearly pleased with her performance.
Once she was near, Darren taunted, “Looks like you're set to take first place again.”
Elyse winked at him and replied, “That will depend on the judges’ fairness.”
Darren laughed heartily and made his way to the stage. He hadn't practiced the piece extensively, yet he felt
confident about securing his place.
As Elyse left the stage, she began searching for Fiona. Not finding her, she tapped her head, pondering if Fiona
might have gone to the restroom.
Unexpectedly, even after several contestants had performed, Fiona had not returned.
Elyse couldn't contain her anxiety and started searching everywhere for Fiona, but she was nowhere to be found.
Darren was also on the lookout for Fiona, but he couldn't find her either.
As the ninth contestant concluded his performance, Elyse’s worry escalated to the point of tears. She exclaimed
in distress, “Where is Fiona? It's her turn to compete. Without her participation, how will she be ranked?”
Observing Elyse’s growing anxiety, Darren remarked, “Have you considered that maybe she chose not to
compete and left quietly?”
“That's impossible! She wouldn't just leave,” Elyse immediately responded, dismissing the idea.
With a solemn expression, Darren countered, “Did you not realize Fiona wasn't listed in the qualifiers before the
extra round?”
This revelation left Elyse speechless. She hadn't noticed that detail.
Darren sighed deeply and guided her back toward the backstage just as the ninth contestant was stepping off
the stage.
At that moment, a staff member announced, “Miss Fiona Evans, please cto the stage for your performance!”
Despite repeated calls, there was no response. The staff member turned to the audience and asked, “Does
anyone know where Fiona is?”
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“I've searched everywhere but haven't found her,” Elyse replied quietly.
The staff member checked his watch and stated firmly, “If she does not appear shortly, she will be deemed to
have forfeited her performance.”
Elyse felt powerless to alter the situation and watched helplessly as the staff member went to consult with the
judges.
Gavin was seated behind the judges. He was taken aback by the announcement.
Elyse decided to avoid Gavin's gaze and stayed backstage, not wanting to confront him unless he inquired about
the situation.
The competition proceeded to conclude without Fiona. After deliberation, the judges confirmed the results for the
nine participants.
Announcements were made: “First place, Elyse Lloyd; second place, Vicky Aston. At third place, Mariana Dury. At
seventh place, Darren Reynolds. And finally, Cassidy Lipson takes the eighth place.”
As Elyse reappeared on stage, her victory felt bittersweet. Although she secured the championship, Fiona’s
unexpected withdrawal dampened her spirits.
Vicky was standing beside her with a forced smile. She remarked, “It seems like you are my only true competitor
here. Even Darren doesn’t measure up.”
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